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Social Media Coordinator Career Guide

Do you have a knack for social media? How about a sales or marketing background? If so, becoming a social media coordinator may be the dream job for you!

Social media coordinators have a fun and ever-changing career that is very rewarding. They create, implement, and keep track of all social media marketing content. Social media coordinators must have a deep and thorough understanding of all major social media platforms and must be proficient in marketing on these platforms. It’s more than just posting and commenting on each platform. They must understand the science of attracting social media traffic in terms of engagement and use insights to make strategic decisions. They should have an understanding of branding and sales as well. Their whole goal is to attract as much traffic as possible by maximizing reach in order to increase sales and revenue. Equally as important is building brand recognition and trust.

Sample job description

[Your Company Name] is in search of a social media coordinator. This candidate will be responsible for monitoring all social media content, collaborating with designs and copywriters to provide informative and attractive campaigns, tracking customer engagement and SEO to optimize content, and establishing networks of industry professionals and influencers on social media. Duties include meeting with clients to establish needs, hiring and training a motivated team, revising projects based on client feedback, and designing infographics. By handling business posts on social media platforms, you will be responsible for web page design and publishing, and promoting the client’s cause. The ideal candidate will be able to work well with a team, multitask, be organized, self-motivated, and be a critical thinker. Attention to detail is a must, and knowledge of social media trends, algorithms, and design elements is essential. This candidate must have one or more years of experience as a social media coordinator, or a similar role, and the ability to understand SEO and web traffic data.

Typical duties and responsibilities

  • Collaborate with other professionals 
  • Communicate with the employers, finance teams, and or the clients 
  • Assign tasks 
  • Plan social media calendars for each platform
  • Monitor social media and track insights
  • Understand KPIs and present them to the managing team
  • Track results of different campaigns
  • Coordinate with influencers to ensure seamless brand cohesion
  • Keep up to date with the latest tech and algorithm changes
  • Keep records of customer interaction
  • Create strong relationships in the industry with consumers and new brands

Education and experience

  • A year or more of experience as a social media coordinator or similar 
  • A bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or a related field of study

Required skills and qualifications

  • Expert on all social media platforms
  • Analytical and tech skills
  • Extremely creative
  • Knowledge of trends and understanding of the algorithm
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Superior time management skills
  • Work well under pressure
  • Detail-oriented
  • Ability to meet deadlines
  • Proficient with media tools
  • Familiarity with Google Analytics and social media insights
  • Ability to team lead and supervise
  • Experience with Microsoft Office

Preferred qualifications

  • Strong knowledge of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok
  • 3+ years of experience managing social accounts for a company or business
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Great time management skills

Typical work environment

Social media coordinators typically work in an office setting so they can collaborate with the marketing and advertising team. They sit at a desk for long periods of time as their work is done through the use of a computer or smartphone. Some social media coordinators work remotely, either for a dedicated company or as a freelancer. This is usually for smaller brands and businesses that do not need to hire someone in-house.

Typical hours

Social media coordinators work Monday through Friday, and they work the traditional hours of 8 AM to 5 PM. The hours can vary depending on the business, but longer hours can occur as they are required to meet deadlines as well.

Available certifications

You can set yourself apart from the crowd by obtaining certifications in the social media space. Here are just a few certifications you can get before becoming a social media coordinator:

  • Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate. One of the most important things you can know as a social media coordinator is Google Analytics. If you haven’t studied the platform before, this certificate will give you all the tools you need to know insights and how to use them to your company’s advantage. You don’t need any prior experience before taking the course. You will need to pass an exam to show your proficiency after taking the course.
  • Hootsuite Academy Social Marketing Certification. This course will take approximately six hours, and has six different modules to go through. They cover everything from growing your community to the fundamentals of social advertising.

Career path

Many social media coordinators will receive a bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or a related field before getting their first job. Internships are highly encouraged, and most companies are looking for a year or more of experience working in social media. Those who are social media coordinators will have the opportunity to advance into higher level positions with time, like social media manager.

US, Bureau of Labor Statistics’ job outlook

SOC Code: 11-2021

2020 Employment293,700
Projected Employment in 2030323,100
Projected 2020-2030 Percentage Shift 10% increase
Projected 2020-2030 Numeric Shift29,400 increase

Over the years, new ways of marketing products and services have evolved. Social media coordinators will continue to rise in the coming years. As social media platforms expand into the online shopping realm, like Instagram now offering livestream shopping, brands are now realizing they can no longer leave social media alone. Brands will need social media coordinators to help drive traffic and sales.